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Key Facts

Full name
Norman Betson

Known as
Norm Betson

Born
8 July 1914

Died
5 May 1988 (aged 73)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 25y 343d
Last game: 31y 55d

Height and weight
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 92 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon; Glenelg

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 31

Recruited from
Essendon (1946)

Norm Betson

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
EssendonV/AFL1940-194578410.5362%———0
GlenelgSANFL1946-194842461.10—————
Total1940-1948120870.73—————

AFL: 4,817th player to appear, 3,116th most games played, 2,416th most goals kickedEssendon: 548th player to appear, 239th most games played, 208th most goals kicked

Norm Betson had impressed as a resolute and canny ruckman for Essendon in 78 VFL games spread over six war-interrupted seasons when he was appointed captain-coach of Glenelg in 1946. Unfortunately for both Betson and the Bays, however, he was beset with injury, and in July opted to stand down as coach in favour of Ray Curnow. In 1947 and 1948 Betson enjoyed an injury free time highlighted by selection in South Australia’s Hobart carnival team in the former season, and as vice-captain of the croweater side that lost narrowly to the ‘Big V’ in Melbourne in the latter. His SANFL career comprised 42 games. Originally from Culcairn, Betson skippered the Bays in his final league season.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy's SA Football Companion

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Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.